Discovery of a weapons cache near Berlin and investigations into possible involvement of foreign powers

German security authorities discovered a weapons cache near Berlin, according to media reports. The local official media outlets, NDR and FDR, and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported that the Public Prosecution opened an investigation into suspicions of preparation for a dangerous act targeting the state, and a suspect was arrested in Romania who is believed to have hidden the two weapons.

While previous media reports quoted sources as saying that German intelligence services believed that the weapons were intended for assassination operations on behalf of Russian intelligence, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt merely said that he did not rule out the involvement of foreign powers.

Last summer, the police received a report about a professionally established cache containing two pistols in the border area between the capital and the state of Brandenburg. The reports confirmed that "the Internal Intelligence Service believes that it was Russian intelligence that ordered the preparation of the hideout." She added that the two weapons were placed in the hideout so that they could be used by agents assigned by the Kremlin to carry out “kinetic operations,” especially assassination operations.

No official accusation was issued by Berlin against Moscow, nor did the latter comment on what was stated in these media reports until the publication of this news.

The German Interior Minister said that his country is communicating with Romania about the possibility of extraditing a man detained in Romania in connection with the discovery of a weapons cache in a forest near Berlin last year. “This case reveals that we face a high level of threat,” Dobrynt said during a press conference. The minister merely said that he did not rule out the involvement of foreign powers. Dobrint added that the suspect, whose nationality was not revealed, is also being held in connection with attacks that he was suspected of planning to carry out using parcel bombs in Romania.

This matter will play a role in negotiations with the Romanian authorities regarding his possible extradition. "We will then determine, in the course of the investigation, the measures that can be taken against this person," Dobrindt said. He stated that the cache, which also included ammunition, was placed under surveillance for several months after its discovery, but no one was seen approaching it.

Germany constantly warns of the threat posed by Russia to its territory, including espionage, sabotage, and attempts to destabilize it. These warnings have escalated since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago, at a time when Berlin is Kiev's largest military supporter.